Emily Atack has revealed that she became pregnant as a teenager while in an abusive relationship, discussing the traumatic experiences of her youth in a candid new interview. The 36-year-old actress, best known for her role in The Inbetweeners and the recent series Rivals, shared details about her troubled adolescence and the challenges she faced.
Teenage Pregnancy and Abusive Relationship
Speaking on the How To Fail podcast with Elizabeth Day, Atack disclosed that she fell pregnant at the age of 16 while in what she described as an 'awful, abusive and horrible relationship.' The pregnancy coincided with her parents' divorce, adding to the turmoil. 'I was sexually active with older boys and men, and that was very difficult for my parents,' she said. 'I remember when my dad left, and I've never actually told anybody this, but I was pregnant and I was very young. I was in this awful, abusive, horrible relationship, and I fell pregnant.' She added that the pregnancy did not continue, though she did not elaborate further. 'I've never spoken openly about how or what happened and I don't know if I'm ready to yet, but obviously that pregnancy didn't continue.'
Childhood Sexual Assault
In the same interview, Atack revealed that she was sexually assaulted at the age of 10, which she described as a turning point in her life. 'I was keeping so much from my parents when I was young. Again, it's going a little bit dark, but I was sexually assaulted, first of all, when I was ten,' she said. 'That was when I was first ever sexually assaulted and I remember being ten years old and from that moment I was treated appallingly by older men from that age, throughout my life.' She noted that many details of her experiences remain unknown to her parents to this day.
Family Dynamics and Moving Forward
After her parents divorced, Atack left school and moved to London with her sister Martha. She emphasized that she does not blame her parents, describing them as 'amazing people.' 'I don't berate them in any way for this. Everybody makes mistakes, and this was just a period of time where lots of mistakes were being made, but now as a mother, I understand,' she said. Atack also addressed perceptions that her career success was handed to her due to her family background, insisting that she achieved it on her own. 'I really did, and in the middle of being in these abusive, horrible relationships, I wanted to be with somebody. I wanted to be looked after and so I was going out with all these awful guys and doing all that.'
Current Life and Family
Atack is now engaged to Dr. Alistair Garner, a materials scientist specializing in aerospace and nuclear applications. The couple went public with their relationship in 2023 and are set to marry later this year. In 2024, they welcomed their first child, a son named Barney James. Atack reflected on how her past experiences have shaped her, saying, 'I do think it made us all stronger as a family.'
Support and Resources
Rape Crisis England & Wales is a charity working to end sexual violence. They offer support for survivors, regardless of when the abuse occurred. For help, call the 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222 (if aged 16 or over).
